Have had errors during an attempt to install SP3 for Windows XP. (Dell Dimension 3100 PC).

Windows XP professional SP2 [originally SP1 and updated to SP2 from a CD purchased from Microsoft and then (after upgrading to broadband) kept up to date with Windows Update and more recently Microsoft Update]: attempted to install the SP3 update. from Windows Update.

All went well until near the end when it was attempting to finish off.

Then I got an application error for drwtsn32.exe

Instruction at 0x5a00cdf4 referenced memory at 0xe5e66544, The memory could not be "read".

I tried clicking on cancel to debug which did not achieve anything so I clicked on OK to terminate the application.

The application error kept repeating. I also got repeated application errors for other applications including mcuimgr.exe and reg.exe. All were unable to read the SAME memory address.

The only way to finish was to cancel the update. On restarting it went through a very lengthy process of uninstalling the update and restoring (rolling back) to the previous condition (SP2), which fortunately was successful. I now have to take care when turning off the computer not to run the update being offered.

I then ran the Dell diagnostic utility to test the memory but found no error. At this point I noticed the 0x at the start of the address and that there seemed to be 13 'digits' in the address whereas all the memory addresses tested by the Dell utility only had 9 digits. On top of that x does not seem to me to be a valid digit in hexadecimal.

Please may I ask what is the significance of the 0x?

From the diagnostic test I ran there appears to be no fault with the computer.Any suggestions please as to what the problem is and what steps can I take in order to be able to install the SP3 update?

Derek Shaw

Hello Derek,many people are experiencing these type of problems.

Some solutions are turn off firewall to download.

Do not install it straight away also restup up how your updates are downloaded and installed.Do not allow them to download and install.Or turn off automatic updates then go and manualy download SP3 and if you have a USB pen drive download and save to that then use USB pen drive to install it.

This seems a way of doing this not sure if it will work but ti is worth a try.

Thank you for your suggestions and comments. Actually my computer started with SP2, it was my wife's that had SP1 and I updated to SP2 with a CD before we had broadband. It is sometimes easy to get mixed up looking after two almost identically set up computers!


However, my computer is set up to automatically download Windows updates and notify me (i.e. not automatically install these). When I did this some updates already downloaded were first installed and then a point was reached to install SP3. I selected this but it first had to carry out the download. This meant that the download and install was done in one (long) sequential process. After having to cancel this and roll back I now have the situation where I am informed that 'Updates are ready for your computer'.


When I want to turn off the computer I am also informed that if I click 'Turn Off' it will install the updates or that I can 'Click here to turn off without installing updates'. Having explored 'SP3 application error' with a Google search, I find that there are seems to be a lot of problems with it so I am thinking about not trying again. But how could I get back to a simple 'Turn Off’ again?


Where would the SP3 download be? Could I get rid of it and download it again manually if I decide to have another go and would this would help? If so, how would I download SP3 manually and where would I best find it on the internet - presumably somewhere on the Microsoft site?


Also if I now run Microsoft Update I am informed that SP3 is already downloaded and ready to install. Does this mean that it might now be safer to make another attempt as it would only have to install this time without first downloading?


Would you have any further comments that might help please?


Derek Shaw

Derek all I can say is try to install it again.

I have been reading a lot of problems about SP3.

There seems to be no sure solution to it.

But there is also a problem like IE7 once it is installed IE7 cannot be reverted back to IE6.Some software installed before SP3 may or may not experience problems.Software installed after SP3 again not sure what may or may not work.

All I can sugest is to make sure wifes pc is fully updated.Do some scans for any spyware etc to make sure its clean.

Microsoft needs to sort this problem out.

Sorry I can not be of more help this is a difficult one to solve for many people.

A lot of people are having problems installing SP3 through microsoft update. You can download it manually from here and install.

Download details: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

As for how to get rid of the shutdown and install updates. Do the following:
Click Start > Run > type: mmc > click OK
Click File > Add/Remove Snap-in > Click Add
Scroll through the list - highlight Group Policy Object Editor > Click Add > Click Finish > Click Close > Click OK
Click the + next to Local Computer Policy.
Go to the following: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Double click - Do not display 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option in Shut Down Windows dialog box > Select Enabled > Click Apply > Click OK.
Repeat above steps for the same setting under User Configuration.
Exit Console. You will asked if you want to save console settings - Click No. You will not be prompted to install updates on shutdown anymore.

Derek,
One thing I'd add if you're still having problems, and it probably goes without saying, is shutting down all extra programming you have running. Go through your start up programs and stop as many of those as you can. SP3 will want ALL your resources to run, give it as much as you can. I've had to do 3 PC updates so far and have 2 more to go. I learn a bit more with each one.

Thank you very much for these details. Have not tried anything more yet but they should be of considerable help whether I want to try again or abandon the idea of installing SP3.
I only ran into problems on the install stage using Microsoft Update, the download part was OK. Microsoft Update now tells me the SP3 update is already downloaded so if I run it again this way it would just be the installation and not downloading first.


If I want to try again with a manual download it occurs to me that it might be a good idea to get rid of the existing download - but where is it? The download was about 67 MB. I have searched all files including system and hidden files for anything larger than 20 MB dated 30 April or later but did not find anything that looked as though it was SP3.


I also notice that the file available from the link you give is over 300 MB which is very much larger than the download I got using Microsoft Update. This webpage says one should not click on download if one is updating just one computer as there is a smaller file using Microsoft Update. (Note my wife's and mine are at present operated as stand alone computers. Because she is using it more or less constantly for work I have not yet been able to get on to it long enough to safely work out how to network them using wireless networking and her computer does not have a network card for a cable connection.)
Where should one put a manual download? Will it work from any desired folder?


Any comments regarding these points please.


One thing that is putting me off trying to install SP3 again is that apparently some software might not run. At least I do not have a Hewlett-Packard computer with AMD as these seem to be particularly badly affected by SP3 - that's if it can be installed in the first place!


Derek Shaw